Building Next-Gen Firefighter Leaders

The Opportunity

Metro West Fire District approached us with the goal of not only helping individual team member grow, but also strengthening their teamwork. We created a custom approach to challenge these brave firefighters to step outside their tactical roles and inside their roles as influential leaders—focusing on self-awareness, communication, and inclusive team building. Over nine months, participants completed four core leadership development modules—Inspire, Relate, Connect, and Include—supported by personalized assessments, PhD led coaching, and peer accountability.

• Firefighters excelled in tactics, but lacked consistent leadership training across their organization.
• Leaders needed to go beyond firefighting to improve communication, empathy, recognition, and collaboration. They also need to prepare the next generation of leaders on their team.
• Metro West wanted a sustainable, customized solution fostering personal growth, cultural change, and measurable impact.

Our Approach

Assessment & Growth Planning

Each leader began with an individual developmental assessment focusing on their personality, thinking and behavior, followed by one-on-one debriefs with one of our consulting psychologists. They walked away knowing which strengths they are underutilizing and which weaknesses they can work on, learning clearer self‑insight and collaborative awareness at the team level.

Four Tailored In-Person Training Modules

• Inspire: a 2-day training focused on personal values, team trust, psychological safety, coaching skills and recognition.
• Relate: a day to learn advanced communication, using our emergenetics technology for thinking and behavior insights.
• Connect: a day to focus solely on emotional intelligence, incorporating storytelling, self and other-awareness and values alignment.
• Include: a day centered around inclusive leadership, bridging relational gaps, and reinforcing core lessons.

Coaching & Peer Accountability

Between modules, participants joined virtual group coaching sessions to share successes and navigate barriers. A continuous feedback loop nurtured a 360° leadership mindset grounded in introspection, real-life application, and team support.

The Result

After MWFPD completed their nine months with our team, their team embraced new skills in leadership growth, communications, and resilience. Participants embraced vulnerability, recognized weaknesses, and prioritized self-development. Team members reported stronger listening habits, increased curiosity, and deepened engagement. MWFP leaders became more adaptable, empathetic, and confident in high pressure situations.

Metro West brought unique workplace challenges to our team of leadership consultants, and our customized approach to improving their teamwork and individual growth included a full-circle design of our science-driven tools. Workshops emphasized real-time coaching, recognition, and inclusive behaviors, and the sustainable culture shift brought peer accountability to the forefront, ensuring long-term impact. By fostering self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and inclusive communication, the firefighters now lead with clarity, empathy, and confidence—both within the walls of the firehouse and in the community they serve.